In a community health survey, every 10th household is selected from a list of 5,000 households after a random start between 1 and 10. This sampling technique is:

• A Simple random sampling
• B Stratified random sampling
• C Cluster sampling
• D Systematic random sampling ✓

Explanation

Systematic random sampling (systematic sampling) selects every k-th element from a sampling frame after a random start in the first interval (1 to k). Here k = 5000/500 = 10, with a random start between 1-10. Its main advantage is practicality and even population coverage. A critical risk is periodicity bias if the sampling interval coincides with a periodic feature in the list. Simple random sampling uses random number tables; stratified sampling divides the population into strata first; cluster sampling selects entire natural groups.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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